“The bakery will continue to operate for the foreseeable future, and if the property is redeveloped the Buckhead location would temporarily relocate with the objective of returning to its current location in a new building on the site,” according to Thornton Kennedy speaking for the owners.

Any expected redevelopment of the site is, according to the announcement by Kennedy, “a long ways off.” However, he added that because of intense interest by the public in what was potentially happening, Henri’s owners felt compelled to issue a statement and end speculation.

Phoenix, Ariz.-based Alliance Residential Company, one of the largest private U.S. multifamily companies with offices throughout much of the country, has invested in more than $10 billion worth of real estate and manages a $14 billion portfolio.

Alliance Residential Company just opened this 250-unit apartment project, Broadstone Court, on Maple Drive in Buckhead.

Alliance Residential just completed and opened Broadstone Court a 250-unit, six-story apartment community located on Maple Drive in Atlanta’s Buckhead Village, between Peachtree and East Paces Ferry Roads. (See BuckheadView’s earlier story here.)

The statement issued by Henri’s Tuesday (Nov. 3) said: “Owner Madeline Leonard along with her family members have made the decision to sell 61 Irby Avenue, and will continue to operate both it and the Sandy Springs bakery, 6289 Roswell Road.”

The statement further said: “The potential sale is not expected to immediately impact the business, and the Atlanta institution’s Buckhead location will remain open for the foreseeable future.” The property is currently under contract and is in the due diligence period, according to the statement.

Henri’s statement explains that Alliance Residential Company “plans to incorporate Henri’s into a mixed-use project on the site. During the possible

One of Henri’s employees wears a t-shirt that tells the bakery’s history.

construction the Buckhead Henri’s would move to a temporary location nearby.”

Leonard has been running Henri’s since her grandfather Henri Fiscus’ died in 1974. She grew up working in the Buckhead bakery with her sisters Suzette DiNardo, Mimi Veerkamp, Michelle Teihaber and brother Henri Ray Bell, all of whom are the current owners of the business.

“My grandfather was an unbelievable man and a wonderful chef and community business owner,” Leonard said. “We appreciate all of our customers. We love our staff and everyone who has enjoyed our cheese straws, cookies and sandwiches over the years. We are ensuring our grandfather’s legacy lives on in the same location.”

Henri’s is known internationally and has won many awards for its creations. Henri’s offers a wide range of scratch baked goods from bread and rolls to croissants, pastries, cookies, cakes, French pastries, pies, Danish, donuts as well as signature deli sandwiches. The present Buckhead Village store is the bakery’s fifth location.

A French immigrant, Fiscus arrived in Atlanta in 1922 as the pastry chef for the Biltmore Hotel. In 1929 he opened the titular bakery on the corner of Peachtree and 10th streets. Over the years it moved to Rhodes Center, Peachtree Palisades, and to the corner of Peachtree and Piedmont Avenue before settling in its current location on Irby Avenue in 1969. The family opened a second location in Sandy Springs in 1984.

Future plans for the property are currently under development and will be released over the next several months, according to the announcement by Kennedy.